October 2007 - Contents Can you believe it? Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches End of British Summertime Harvest Festival Services Services at St Wystan's, Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney Readers and Intercessors at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Wystan's Brasses at St Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church Coffee Morning, Saturday 13th October Card and Coffee Day, Thursday 18th October Shell (for children aged 7+) Christmas Mini-Market, Saturday 3rd November Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Lauren Rebecca Christine Neal Barnett Evelyn Jessica Brooks Alexander Joe Farmer Isaac William Farmer Dennis Arthur Williamson Harry George Wild Marriages James Tidy and Victoria Makin Funerals and Burial of Ashes Richard Derek Goatman Eileen Newitt Duncan Drake Deborah Jane Copestake The Memorial Book Repton Benefice Sponsored Bike Ride Bible Sunday St Wystan's News Harvest Festival, Sunday 14th October St Wystan's Church West End Development Update Healing Prayer Repton M.U. St Mary's News Harvest Festival, Sunday 7th October Repton School Concert, Tuesday 2nd October Newton Solney Infant and Pre-Schools Open Morning, Wednesday 10th October Sausage, Mash & Bingo, Thursday 11th October St Wystan's Harvest Supper, Saturday 13th October Card and Coffee Day, Thursday 19th October Repton School Concert, Tuesday 30th October Thankyou The Goatman family Charities Always Carry your Donor Card Trading Fairly, www.tradingfairly.co.uk South Derbyshire Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccinations Repton Village and History Apologies from Sue Sharratt Bank House Farm Fire Congratulations to Ian Hall Repton Village Hall Repton Neighbourhood Help Sale of Work & Fun Day, Saturday 3rd November Repton Christmas Tree Festival, Friday 7th to Monday 10th December Repton Village Society Repton W.I. Repton Village History Group Repton Parish Council Jottings Christmas Charity Market, Saturday 17th November Repton Village Show 21st World Scout Jamboree, 'One World, One Promise' Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Christmas Tree Festival, 7th-10th December Newton Solney Women's Institute Further Afield National Memorial Arboretum, The Armed Forces Memorial Gardening Notes

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Can you believe it?

As I write, the clock on St Wystan's Church is eight minutes slow. Our faithful clock-keeper is away. If you are late for an appointment, the clock could be reassuring - but untrue; if you have no watch on, it could be misleading. In a court of law, knowing the exact time of a crime could be crucial to a verdict. But to know the correct time we need a true point of reference, such as a radio signal.

Life is full of uncertainties. It is hard to know who to believe or what to trust. Advertisements make claims, remedies are offered for many problems, and people fail to keep their word. Whether in good times or bad, it is often hard to make decisions. In matters of what is right and wrong, true or false, the personal views of individuals will differ, or even conflict strongly. It is often regarded as a sign of intolerance to claim, in any way, to know what is true. Indeed, how can we know what to believe if we have no reliable point of reference?

Just as what we understand to be the time makes no difference to the true time, so our understanding of God makes no difference to the truth about him.

However, if our understanding is not to be falsely reassuring, completely wrong, or even to make the difference between life and death, we need a way to know what to believe. We may look to the church (the people, not the building) for that, and hopefully, like the clock, that will usually be helpful. But we have to face the reality that, like the clock, Christian people are fallible and can be unhelpful or even distracting. So we look beyond that to the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we see the way, the truth and the life of God. He is the reliable reference point.

If you would like to find out more about Jesus Christ, do read one of the Gospel accounts in the Bible, or ask a Christian.

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Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

End of British Summertime

When the clocks go back (at 2 am BST on Sunday 28th October), evening services at Foremark and Newton Solney are brought forward for the winter, normally to 4 pm. At St Mary's, on the 28th only, evensong will be at the slightly later time of 4.45 pm.

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Harvest Festival Services

Now that the summer crops have been harvested, we celebrate the food grown on the land. Harvest festivals are traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon, the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. However, now that the vicar is responsible for three parishes, the situation is not so simple. Thanksgiving ceremonies for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient; in England, they go back to pagan times. Today we celebrate by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food. Harvest Festival reminds us of all the good things God gives us, it reminds us and prompts us to share with others who are not so fortunate.

This year our harvest services will have a 'creation' focus, as we have been considering ecological issues in the P.C.C.s during the course of the year.

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St Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

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Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's

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Altar Flowers (contact Frances Wimbush, 703180)

7th: Marjorie Boddice.  14th: Evelyn Cawdron.  21st:	Liz Plant.  28th: Angela Mayger.

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Brasses (contact Pauline Beckett, 500132)

7th: Evelyn Cawdron.  14th & 21st: Carol Hickebottom.  28th: Glenda Brewin.

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Altar Flowers & Cleaning at St Saviour's (contact Ann Redfern, 01332 862350)

14th: Carol Wright, Betty Thorley, Ann Redfern, Polly Faulkner, Heather Lowe.
21st: Autumn clean and polish.

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The United Reformed Church

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Coffee Morning, Saturday 13th October, 10.30 - 11.30 am

Another opportunity to have coffee and a chat with friends, stock up on home-made marmalade and cakes, play the children's game and relax for an hour.

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Card and Coffee Day, Thursday 18th October at 2A The Pastures

Once again you have a chance to look at the new Christmas range of Webb Ivory Christmas cards and stationery, and to buy presents from the catalogue. Shop in comfort at the home of Mrs. M. Atkin - in the morning from 10.30 to noon, with coffee and biscuits; in the afternoon from 2.30 until 4, when cream scones will be served; and in the evening from 7.30 to 8.30, with scones again on the menu! Everyone is welcome. All proceeds are for the U.R.C.

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Shell Group (age 7+)

Shell Group meets on Mondays from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. New members are welcome.

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Christmas Mini-Market, Saturday 3rd November

Please note that this event will be held on the first Saturday of the month.

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Baptisms

Lauren Rebecca Christine Neal Barnett, daughter of Sandra Barnett of 64 Holderness Close, Stenson Fields, Derby, was baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 19th August.

Evelyn Jessica Brooks, daughter of Aimee and Jeremy Brooks of 38 Sage Drive, Woodville, Derby, was baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 19th August.

Alexander Joe Farmer, son of Lisa and Peter Farmer of 99 Scalpcliffe Road, Stapenhill, Burton on Trent, was baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 19th August.

Isaac William Farmer, son of Lisa and Peter Farmer of 99 Scalpcliffe Road, Stapenhill, Burton on Trent, was baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 19th August.

Dennis Arthur Williamson, son of Bridget and James Williamson of 2 Springfield Road, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Sunday 19th August.

Harry George Wild, son of Cara and Philip Wild of 21 The Crescent, Repton, was baptised at St Saviour's Church, Foremark, on Sunday 26th August.

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Marriages

James Tidy and Victoria Makin were married at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney on Thursday 16th August.

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Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Richard Derek Goatman of 28 Milton Road, Repton, died on Friday 10th August aged 55. A service at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 21st August was followed by burial at Monsom Lane cemetery.

Eileen Newitt of Churchfield Residential Home, Churchfield Drive, Rainworth, Mansfield, Nottingham, died on Sunday 12th August aged 83. A funeral service at Bretby Crematorium on 22nd August was followed by cremation.

Duncan Drake of 4 Brizlincote Lane, Bretby, died on Friday 17th August aged 74. A funeral service at St Mary's Church, Newton Solney, on 29th August was followed by cremation at Bretby Crematorium.

Deborah Jane Copestake, the daughter of Cynthia and James Ellor, died aged 58 on 2nd September at the Salisbury Hospice, Hampshire, after a long illness borne with great courage.

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The Memorial Book

The Memorial Book was donated in memory of Henry Chilton as a place where the names of those who have lived in Repton can be recorded in the church.   All former Repton residents are eligible, as well as those buried or interred in St Wystan's churchyard or Monsom Lane cemetery.   There is no charge but a donation towards church funds is greatly appreciated.   Those who died on or after the 1st January 2000 are eligible.   All we need is the full name and the dates of birth and death.

Please contact Rev'd Peter Paine, 703317.

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Repton Benefice

Sponsored Bike Ride

Thank you to every one in Repton and Newton Solney who sponsored me for the Derbyshire Churches and Chapels 'Ride and Stride'. I managed to visit several more churches than last year, as far as Sudbury in the west and Sutton on the Hill north of the river. So far I have received £157 for Repton and £95 for Newton Solney, and money is still coming in. Thank you also to others who rode, to those who manned the churches, and to Pam Clifford and Jennifer Haynes who organised the event in our parishes.

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Bible Sunday

The Last Sunday after Trinity, this year the last Sunday in October, is Bible Sunday. Why 'Bible Sunday'? Perhaps the simplest answer is that it is the Sunday when we use the collect:

"Blessed Lord, you have caused all holy Scripture to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ."

So why do we keep Bible Sunday on the Last Sunday after Trinity? It hasn't always been so.

In the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), the collect was used on the Second Sunday of Advent. There the themes for Advent were the four last things: death, judgement, heaven and hell.

In 1980 the Alternative Service Book (ASB) kept the collects, but changed some of the readings, and the Advent themes became four means of revelation, leading up to the greatest and definitive revelation of God's life in Jesus Christ: the Patriarchs represented by Abraham; holy Scripture; the Prophets represented by John the Baptist and Mary Jesus' mother. The ASB introduced the presence of Mary as one of those who prepared the way for Christ on the Fourth Sunday of Advent and a new collect was written. (It was not politically correct to refer too much to Mary in the 16th century; you might have lost your head or been locked up in the Tower!)

With the introduction of a new book, Common Worship, in 2000, both the readings and some of the collects were changed. Common Worship has now put the BCP collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on the Second Sunday, and this has displaced the collect about holy Scripture. It couldn't go into Advent, as Advent has its own theme, the Kingdom. So the collect about holy Scripture has been put, as we saw at the beginning, on the Sunday before the Kingdom season - the Last Sunday after Trinity.

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St Wystan's News

Harvest Festival, Sunday 14th October

The service at 9.45 am will be 'children friendly', as on the first and third Sundays, but as it is the second Sunday of the month it will conclude with Holy Communion. After the service, harvest produce will go to the Padley Centre.

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St Wystan's Church West End Development Update

Good news! The Diocesan Advisory Committee has written to say "members were enthusiastic about the designs (for the engraved glazing in the West End screen) and thought they would sit well in the context of the screen. Members considered that the engravings will enrich the interior of the church and add to its interest." I'm delighted that we have such affirmative support from expert opinion, but perhaps it was a little optimistic last month to suggest that in the village all opposition might have disappeared.

The ability to welcome families is quite essential for any church which cares for its community. A growing church needs toilets, kitchen, and a room for children separate from the vestry, which is used as a crèche. If we don't provide children with a dedicated space during worship, we can't be surprised if families don't come. We will also be able to welcome community groups for meetings of up to about 35 people - a very important part of the scheme.

In our plans, we have made every effort to preserve and even enhance the awesomeness and prayerfulness of such a fine church. Our new facilities need to be made from the best materials, for only those are in keeping with the rest of the building, and that, of course, makes the project expensive. God regularly asks the seemingly impossible, so that we have to rely on him for support!

With regard to the faculty application, we are currently reviewing in great detail the architect's proposed submission to builders. When we are happy with every detail, this weighty document will be sent to three builders for their estimates. We hope that these will be back with us later in the autumn.

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Healing Prayer

The group which is exploring the Christian ministry of prayer for healing will meet on the following dates during the autumn: Tuesday 9th October, to hear the third tape of Bishop David Pytches; Wednesday 31st October, to start the course 'Saints Alive - Healing in the Church'; Tuesday 4th December. We meet in the Vicarage at 7.30 pm. Please contact me there if you would like to join the group, or if you would like prayer for yourself or someone you know.

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Repton M.U.

In September members were given a warm welcome to Twyford Church by churchwarden, Sylvia Fox. She reminded us of the old days when there was a ferry across the Trent at Twyford. Then she explained why there was a church in such a tiny hamlet, before pointing out features of its architecture. In the peace of such an ancient building it seemed right to say the old office of Compline together, before we all enjoyed a cup of tea.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 17th October at 2.30 pm in the Fisher Close Room: Service followed by 'Changing Views of Childhood', a talk illustrated by antique dolls from Audrey Morris' collection. Non-members are always welcome.

P.S. We are busily making decorations for our Christmas Tree for the Festival in December. Have you got started yet?

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St Mary's News

Harvest Festival, Sunday 7th October

Thanksgiving for the harvest will be offered at St Mary's at the 10 am All-age Service. Contributions of produce, flowers and foliage - as well as help with decorating the Church - will be welcomed on the afternoon of Thursday 4th October from 2 pm, and on the morning of Saturday 6th October from 9.30 am. Gifts of produce, dry goods and toiletries will be delivered during the following week to the Padley Centre and the Derby City Mission. The cash collection from the Sunday morning service will go to support the Bishop's Harvest Appeal for children in India and Tanzania, as detailed on the posters in church.

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Repton School Concerts Society Roderick Williams - Baritone & Susie Allen - Piano Tuesday 2nd October at 7.45 pm in the Robert Beldam Hall Music by Butterworth, Finzi, Ireland and Vaughan-Williams. A hugely versatile artist with an internationally acclaimed accompanist. Individual tickets £12 & £9 (concessions). Season tickets are still available at £50 for the remaining concerts. For further information or tickets contact: The Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

Newton Solney Infant and Pre-Schools Open Morning Wednesday 10th October between 9.30 and 11.30 am Come along to see us at work and play, and take the opportunity to chat with pupils, staff, governors and friends of the school. Refreshments will be available. Tel. 01283 703461 for more information.

South Derbyshire Conservative Association Sausage, Mash & Bingo Repton Village Hall. Thursday 11th October at 7.30 pm £5 (pay at the door)              Bring your own drinks. Enquiries to Pam Bladen, 701189

St Wystan's Church Bring & Share Harvest Supper Repton Village Hall. Saturday 13th October at 7 pm £1. Everyone welcome. Bring your own drink and glasses. Sign up on the notice at the back of St Wystan's Church, or ring Karen Perks, 702392, or Carol Lloyd, 702410, for details and to discuss dishes.

Card and Coffee Day Thursday 19th October at 2A The Pastures Coffee and biscuits: 10.30 to 12 noon Cream scones: 2.30 to 4.00 pm and 7.30 to 8.30 pm. Mrs. C. Atkin invites you to choose your Christmas cards, stationery and gifts from the Webb Ivory range in the comfort of her home. Everyone is welcome - bring your friends! All proceeds to the United Reformed Church

Repton School Concerts Society Schubert Ensemble Tuesday 30th October at 7.45 pm in the Robert Beldam Hall Chamber music for piano and strings including works by Brahms and Fauré played by an ensemble which has performed in over 40 countries. Individual tickets £12 & £9 (concessions). Season tickets are still available at £50 for the remaining concerts. For further information or tickets contact: The Secretary (Sue Parker), 01283 702550 or Repton Music School, 01283 559319

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Thankyou

We all send our heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming sympathy and kindness shown to us since Richard's death. The countless messages of love and support have helped to ease the pain of the last few weeks, and are so much appreciated.

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Charities

Always Carry your Donor Card

In September, William Rollo, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, described the anxiety of waiting for a lung transplant. As part of my nursing rotation, I have recently finished a four month work placement on a respiratory ward at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where I worked with patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, many of them my age, and very inspirational. I found it humbling to work with patients who have lived with this genetic condition all their lives, planning every single day just for survival. I really miss working there; one day, after a bit more general experience, I hope to go back. My patients even inspired me to climb Ben Nevis in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust!

So from this, I have been moved to always carry my donor card, and I encourage you to do the same, because of the hope it brings to patients such as these waiting for their new lungs. Some of them wait in hospital for months and months, kept alive by a strict regime of antibiotics and intensive physiotherapy. Many die before a transplant can be found, over 450 last year in the UK. I looked after one girl who had her hopes of a transplant dashed seven times, but I'm happy that now she has her new lungs. She has been discharged from hospital and is ecstatically happy not to be chained to her oxygen!

If you still need persuading to carry your donor card, do watch the video on the www.youtube.com, Live Life then Give Life campaign. And it only takes a minute to log on to www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk and sign up for the organ donor register. If your name is held centrally it can make all the difference in an emergency, even if you carry a card already.

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Trading Fairly, www.tradingfairly.co.uk

A new website, Trading Fairly, provides a complete online listing of fair trade retailers and wholesalers in the UK. It is fully searchable by location, description and product line, providing a convenient way to find fair trade products.

It is hoped that the site will make it easy for ethically minded shoppers to find what we are looking for, and by removing the hassle, it might encourage others to become ethically minded shoppers too.

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South Derbyshire

Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccinations

At Willington Surgery, vaccinations are again available against influenza and pneumonia. Clinics start on Saturday 29th September, and there are 5 sessions in October. To book an appointment please call in to the surgery or telephone 01283 703318.

Vaccination is recommended for patients over 65 and those who suffer from diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, or heart or kidney disease.

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Repton Village & History

Apologies

Sue Sharratt regrets that following a family bereavement she had to cancel her coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Relief on 29th September.

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Bank House Farm Fire

We would like to express our regret for all the smoke and disruption caused by the recent fire, and thank the Fire Service and all the people who helped and supported us. Although we lost a fair bit of hay and straw, it could have been a lot worse. No buildings were damaged, and above all, no animals or people were hurt.

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Congratulations

. . . to Ian Hall on his engagement to Laura English of Upminster, Essex. Ian is the son of John and Andrea Hall of 43 Burton Road, Repton. Ian and Laura met at Durham University and are planning a wedding in 2009.

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Repton Village Hall

At the end of August, we learned that our bid for Big Lottery funding to rebuild the Village Hall was unsuccessful. Following further correspondence we are considering our next move.

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Repton Neighbourhood Help

Our first meeting after the summer break was marked by the water being cut off. Contingency plans meant fish and chips for all, helped along by birthday wine and chocolates! Several members have been unable to attend for a variety of reasons, and we wish them a speedy return; we also gratefully welcome back David Fleming after a year long absence in care and hospital.

Can you help?

We need another driver who can commit to transporting members between 12 and 12.30 pm on Fridays. Please ring me if you can help. We break for 2 weeks at Christmas and Easter, and for several weeks during the summer.

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Sale of Work & Fun Day, Saturday 3rd November

The Sale of Work and Fun Day is a joint effort by members of Repton Village and Repton School, and takes place annually during the afternoon in the School's grounds and halls. There is always a wide variety of stalls, where quality items, particularly hand-made ones, as well as bargains, are available. There will also be numerous fun items catering for all age groups, run by the pupils, together with a variety of refreshments including teas and pancakes.

Did you know . . . ?

Last year more than £29,800 pounds was raised as a result of the main event on the day as well as the additional cabarets, dinners and auctions run by the boarding houses. This is a far cry from the £23 12s 8d raised at the first Sale of Work in 1877. Some of the very first Sale of Work events were held to raise money for the Zenana Mission, which funded visits by women missionaries to Indian women in their own homes, with the aim of converting them to Christianity. The majority of money raised today traditionally reaches those good causes which are found a little closer to home!

How money is distributed

Stall-holders and boarding house representatives, who have helped to raise the money, meet after the event to decide who should benefit. We are always keen to support worthy local causes, and last year the following Repton organisations benefited to the tune of more than £2,500: the Village Hall refurbishment fund, Repton Pre-School, the United Reformed Church, St Wystan's Church maintenance, Repton Neighbourhood Help Scheme, The Dales and Repton Casuals. A further £5,000 went to other local organisations. On the whole we target help at organisations that have connections to members of the village or school, and where a sum from us would make a significant difference to them or would fund a definite project. Suggestions and requests for donations should be made to stall-holders or boarding house representatives.

How you can help

To raise such large sums of money requires a lot of hard work. Gifts and help in making items like cakes or craft work would be very much appreciated. The following stalls rely on your support and the stallholders would greatly welcome gifts direct to them in Repton or to Pears School on the day. Extra help is always useful, so anyone who is willing to be involved on the day should contact any stall holder or Mrs. Penny Holroyd at The Hall.

Cake Stall Louise Hardwick 701608

Toy Stall Shelagh Setterington 559291

Gifts and Crafts Margaret Bromage 701609

Bottles, Jars and Pots Francis Wimbush 703180

Book Stall to the Tithe Barn on the day

Do come along this year and help raise a significant sum for charity, whilst purchasing worthwhile items and having lots of fun. p.s. Bottles, Jars & Pots

This stall was again very successful last year but it does rely on your support. We would be very grateful for donations of any item in a bottle, pot or jar: home-made preserves, jars of sweets, toiletries or whatever!

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Repton Christmas Tree Festival, St Wystan's Church, Friday 7th to Monday 10th December

Things are moving quickly, and we now have promises of nearly 50 trees.

Refreshments

We need volunteers to make cakes and scones, and also we need help over the four days with stewarding and making and serving tea etc. If you can help in any way please contact Morag Hill, 702799, or Carol Lloyd, 702410.

Craft Stall

The craft stall will sell a range of hand-made items. Any contributions would be very gratefully received. Jan Roberts, 702159, is organising it and would love to hear from you.

Christmas Cards

We intend to have Christmas cards for sale on the craft stall. They will depict the 'Christmas Tree' that is also on the Festival poster, and will be sold in aid of St Wystan's Church funds.

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Repton Village Society

We are most grateful to John Plowright, Master of the Scholars at Repton, for his talk 'Repton to the End'. John is the editor and part author of a book of the same title, written as part of the School's 450th anniversary celebrations. At our meeting in September he traced the history of the school with reference to some of the Old Reptonians, whilst at the same time providing an insight into editing - all excellently illustrated. Afterwards John guided the audience round the inside of the Old Priory, including the Audit Room and the recently beautifully restored Library.

'The Making of the English Landscape', Thursday 4th October

At our next meeting (Village Hall, 7.30 pm), Marilyn Palmer, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Leicester, will speak on 'The Making of the English Landscape ( Hoskins Updated)'. W.G. Hoskins did so much, through his books and television programmes, to show how our countryside has developed. Marilyn will be bringing this picture up to date.

Bulb Planting, Monday 8th October

Starting at 10.30 am we will be planting more daffodil bulbs, this year in the grass verge on Burton Road past the last house on the way to Newton Solney. Planters are always most welcome. Bulbs will be provided, but please bring your own tools!

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Repton W.I.

Members could not believe that, before coming to Repton, our September speaker had just completed a 12 hour shift with the Ambulance Service. She had had no time to eat, so tucked into tea, sandwiches and cakes before explaining how the St John Ambulance Brigade trains volunteers to assess accident situations, prevent further injury and resuscitate casualties. She was thanked by Jenny Jones, who said that if members agreed, she would try to arrange a short First Aid course at a later date.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 9th October at 7.15 pm in the Village Hall: AGM and Social Evening.

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Repton Village History Group

'A Brief History of Trams', Tuesday 16th October

In October, Glynn Wilton, the Curator of Crich Tramway Village, will give an illustrated talk on the early pre-electric trams. It should make for a very interesting evening. Visitors are welcome. Village Hall, 7.30 pm. Entrance £1.50 for members and £2.50 for visitors.

'Burton Flour Mill', Tuesday 20th November

Our November meeting is now an illustrated talk by Nick Roe about the history of Burton Flour Mill.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

A monthly newsletter covering issues from the most recent Parish Council meeting in September.

• Last month, a controversial planning application for a mobile phone mast to be sited off Broomhills Lane was reviewed by parish councillors. It was decided to lodge an objection, with the rider that if the installation were to go ahead, it should be sited further from housing and be better screened. SDDC Planning Committee decided to reject the application. Amazingly they went on to recommend that the antenna and equipment should utilise the existing mast, which is much closer to houses; this would mean a 10-foot increase in its height. Not only was this contrary to their own planning officer's recommendations, it was the last thing parish councillors and most members of the public wanted. Repton Parish Council is now in direct contact with T-Mobile in an attempt to salvage the situation and get a more sensible solution.
• There is continuing concern that the removal of a traffic-calming plateau near the Square has increased the speed of cars entering the centre of the village. A splitter island there was also removed some time ago. Derbyshire County Council has responded to an enquiry about alternative road safety proposals by advising that it will look at the possibility of installing a "vehicle activated sign to remind motorists of the 30mph speed limit". It goes on to say that even if this is feasible, it will be several months before it could be operative. Removing existing road safety measures without deciding what should take their place does not seem wise, to say the least! Also there is a question mark over the acceptability of the suggested sign in a conservation area.
• A rumour that the flooding of Repton Brook in July was caused by the opening of sluice gates has been scotched by the Environment Agency: there are no sluice gates. The rapid rise in the level of the Brook was simply the result of torrential rain upstream.
• It is planned to install some more bench seats around Repton: visitors and residents alike appreciate the existing ones. Suitable locations are being investigated, but a raft of utility companies have to be approached to find out about any underground services, so it may be a little while before they appear.

Next meeting: Monday 8th October at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. Plans will be available from 7.15 pm. Also, any matter can be raised with a councillor during this time before the meeting.

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Christmas Charity Market, Saturday 17th November

This year's Christmas Charity Market (2 - 4 pm, Repton Village Hall), is organised by Repton Churches Together. There will be stalls selling Tradecraft and Tear Fund jewellery, Fair Trade food products, cards and lots of gift items. Christian Aid, Aid for Russia, Amnesty International and others will also be present, and refreshments available. Money will go to support the Rainbows Children's Hospice, and also raise awareness and funds for various third world projects.

Rainbows Children's Hospice, situated in Loughborough, serves the entire East Midlands, providing respite, palliative and terminal care to children and their families. This year, an appeal has been launched to increase the number of beds and offer better facilities, including a hydrotherapy pool, extended therapy facilities, and an education and training suite.

So mark the date in your diaries. There will be more details next month.

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Repton Village Show

This year's show was another success, with plenty of exhibits for visitors to enjoy. Congratulations to all the individual exhibitors for the high standard of entries. Winners of the special prizes and cups:

Boot Trophy (best vegetable exhibit) A. Peach

John Crockett Trophy (most points in vegetable section) A. Peach

Voucher (best fruit exhibit) GA. Johnson

Marjorie Boddice Trophy (best flower arrangement) J. Bentley

McLean Cup (best rose exhibit) R. Pugh

Silver Trophy (best produce exhibit) M. Court

Photographic Shield M. Wimbush

Cup (best flower exhibit) A. Peach

Handicraft Plate R. Yates

Voucher (selection of herbs) F. Wimbush

Voucher (winner of any other vegetable) A. Peach

Zak's Cup (most points in the children's section) K. Ryalls

Thank you to all who came to see the exhibits and who took part in an excellent auction afterwards, with special thanks once again to our auctioneer, Adrian Argyle.

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21st World Scout Jamboree, 'One World, One Promise'

In August, 38,000 youngsters from 157 nations camped for 12 days at Hylands park in Essex to celebrate the centenary of Scouting. They were supported by over 8,000 adults. Five of us were there from Repton, including Rachel Randle, one of the party who ceremonially handed over the World Scout Flag at the closing ceremony; it will be flown again at the next World Jamboree in Sweden in 2011. In all, 6 youngsters from our Scout District participated, and they had joined together to raise the £8,000 needed to get them there. Some of this money went to help bring youngsters from overseas who could not otherwise get there; some of them had never left their village before, let alone travelled half way around the world.

The scale of the jamboree is difficult to describe. Shops, banks, a post office, radio station, phone systems, computer networks, electrical, water, drainage and sewage systems had to be designed and installed. Hundreds of showers and toilets were hired and commissioned and thousands of tents erected. Transport systems, waste collection and security were all catered for. Hylands Abbey was constructed, and mosques and churches for all faiths were provided. It took 50 minutes to walk from one end of the site to the other!

A supermarket chain provided three retail outlets, and there were ten ethnic food houses offering everything from Egyptian cuisine to English cream teas. The Scouts cooked for their own units and their Leaders, while the adult support staff had a restaurant that produced three meals a day for 10,000 people. In addition to all this, the event catered for 80,000 day visitors.

On most days the youngsters enjoyed a huge range of activities both on site and further away. There were all sorts of constructions. At one end of the range were classic pioneering structures (poles lashed together with rope), including a replica of the Eifel Tower, a big wheel for eight riders, and a life-sized model of a bi-plane. At the other end were a 50 ft high replica of Big Ben and a tower clock with fountains, fireworks, smoke, lights and bells.

In the evenings, national contingents on each sub-camp provided entertainment of some form. On other days the youngsters could visit the shops and food houses, swap badges and other scouting memorabilia, visit the dozens of national exhibitions, or just meet up and chill out with new friends. Language did not seem to be a problem. The activities include all the adventurous things associated with Scouting, but also community service projects, discussion groups and activities to help the youngsters share social, moral, environmental and cultural issues, and to generate a first-hand understanding of the problems for Scouts in other parts of the world.

English was the common language, but every language was heard, and all about there were sights and sounds of cultures from all over the world. National costumes, dances, spontaneous singing, games and performances by enthusiastic bands and drummers were always around.

One of the things that makes Scouting different is the fact that everyone makes a promise to live up to a set of rules. This promise is the same across the world, and gave rise to the Jamboree theme 'One World, One Promise'. All 40,000 of us renewed this promise in a 'sunrise ceremony' at Hylands Park - in all our various languages - and at 8 am local time, all around the world Scouts and leaders renewed their promise too.

All in all, this was a wonderful and spectacular event, that showed young people at their very best, and also the great opportunities available through Scouting. If you too would like to be part (as adult or youngster) of what Baden-Powell called 'The Great Adventure', please ring Andy Austen on 01283 702448.

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Christmas Tree Festival, 7th-10th December

Planning for the Christmas Tree Festival is in full swing. As at Repton, so also at Newton Solney stewards will be needed in the church to ensure that the weekend runs smoothly. We should be glad to hear from anyone willing to help for one or two-hour periods (12 noon - 4 pm on Friday, l0 am - 4 pm, Saturday - Monday). Perhaps you could sell entrance programmes, mind a craft stall, serve refreshments, or simply be available to welcome visitors and answer queries. If you could help in any way, please contact Sue Elson, 703604, or Jennifer Haynes, 703827.

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Newton Solney Women's Institute

Jean Burns, Vice President, welcomed the members to our September meeting, the beginning of a busy autumn for the group.

Monthly visits to the Mulberry Rooms start again on 26th September, and the following day we are taking a full coach to 'Countdown'. Several members will be attending the Autumn Council Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on 2nd October - with lunch afterwards. Advance notice was given of the Bretby Fun Quiz to be held on 26th October, the annual Birthday Dinner on 14th November, a visit to the New Era Production at the Brewhouse on 29th November, and a New Year's Eve Party in the Village Hall.

Plans are already underway for making decorations for the W.I. tree at the Christmas Tree Festival. Examples were displayed and admired, with members keen to add their skills.

After the business part of the meeting, we heard a most interesting talk by Ann Wood on 'Careers, Concerts and Catastrophies'. We were fascinated as Ann's career unfolded, from leaving school at 16, to work in a bank, through a gap year on the Continent, to finally taking up a position at Shugborough Hall. There she remained for 18 years, eventually becoming Events Manager. We were amused listening to her account of the events she organised and the catastrophies she had to cope with. An enjoyable evening ended as usual with refreshments.

Annual Lecture, Saturday 13th October

The Annual Lecture will be held in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm. This year Richard Stone will speak about the River Trent, with particular reference to the local area. These lectures are always of great interest and admission is only £1. Next Meeting: Tuesday 9th October at 7.30 pm: 'Derbyshire Ghosts and Legends'.

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Further Afield

National Memorial Arboretum, The Armed Forces Memorial

If you have visited the National Memorial Arboretum in recent months, you will have seen the construction of the huge new Armed Forces Memorial, to be dedicated this month.

The memorial contains, engraved in stone around its walls, the names of 16,000 servicemen and women killed on duty or by terrorist action since the end of the Second World War. It embraces a peaceful setting with space for families and friends to remember their loved ones, but with its stunning sculptures, it will be more widely viewed as a magnificent work in its own right.

Attendance at the dedication is by ticket only; the Arboretum will be closed to the general public from 8th to 16th October, and the Memorial itself will open to visitors on Monday 29th October.

If you wish to visit over the Remembrance weekend, you may find a 'park and ride' system in operation; details will be on the NMA hotline, 01283 792571, and on the website, www.thenma.org.uk.

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Gardening Notes

If you are looking for a shrub or tree with autumn colours, October is a good time to look round the nurseries. Even named varieties, grown from cuttings, vary quite a bit; the soil they are planted in may cause some to colour up well in one area, less well in another.

You can start now to plant trees and shrubs, including fruit trees, as well as climbers, roses and hardy perennials. Spring bedding can also be planted out now, whilst the soil is still warm. This would include wallflowers, lupins, sweet Williams and other biennials. Sow sweet peas in pots for planting out in the spring; after germination, keep them in a cold frame.

October and November are the best months to plant heathers, before the ground gets cold. Winter-flowering heathers will grow in most soils except the most alkaline, summer-flowering heathers need acid soil. Incorporate a lot of leaf mould when planting, and protect from rabbits if they are a problem locally.

Continue planting bulbs. Most should be planted at a depth equal to two or three times the size of the bulb. Summer-flowering bulbs can be left until spring, though lilies are better planted now. Main crop potatoes will need lifting on a sunny day.

Plant out spring cabbages sown in late August, and sow winter varieties of broad bean. Plant garlic cloves, point upwards, about 3" deep, and 6" - 8" apart for harvesting at the end of next summer.

Rhubarb needs a cold environment, so remove all old foliage and leave the crowns unprotected. Propagate by lifting and dividing the crowns of established plants at any time from now until the spring, ensuring that each portion has an eye (growing point).

Lift and divide congested clumps of herbaceous perennials. There is still time to take cuttings of tender perennials; those taken earlier may be ready to pot up now.

Bring in all tender plants from pots and containers, although it may be safe to leave some in the border if they are well protected with a thick mulch. Dahlias come into this category, but if you decide to lift them - after the frost has blackened them - cut them down, clean the soil off and leave them upside down for a week to let all the water drain from the hollow stems. Store them in a frost-free place in trays of dry sand, soil or compost, leaving only the old flower stalks exposed. Don't let them get bone dry. Inspect the tubers regularly and cut out any rot, dusting the cut surfaces with sulphur powder. In February or March, pot them up to start into growth.

Black spot has affected the roses badly this year. Pick off all affected leaves and collect those on the ground. The best way to dispose of them is to burn them. Cut tall roses down to prevent 'wind rock'. Tie in climbers and stake top-heavy plants. Check tree ties, and replace as necessary.

Protect apples, pears and plums against the winter and March moths, whose wingless females lay eggs which hatch into looper-type caterpillars, feeding on the leaves and flowers before pollination. Grease bands work well on smooth bark, but on older, rough bark, it is better to paint the grease on the trunk.

Apply autumn fertiliser to the lawn. Most toadstools, if isolated, are harmless and can be raked up and disposed of before they spread their spores. However, 'fairy rings' of toadstools can be a problem, killing off some grass, and stimulating growth at the edge of the ring. The feeding roots of the fungi grow between the grass roots, starving them. The dense growth is also impermeable to water. Spike the affected area, but in the worst case, it may be necessary to dig out the soil to a depth of at least 12" - and 12" either side of the fungi - replace with fresh soil, and reseed when it has settled in the spring. Alternatively, leave it alone, and in a few years it will all grow back to normal.